/graphics/spacer.gif” width=1 height=4 border=0>Seminole Productions won the award for Best Special Occasion Video, for the Bobby Bowden 25th Anniversary Video.

Feb. 19, 2001

Florida State University’s Seminole Productions staff recently brought home a Golden Matrix Award from the 19th Annual IDEA (Information Display and Entertainment Association) Conference. There are over 80 sports organizations represented at this conference, which includes audio, video, matrix board, and marketing personnel from the NCAA, NHL, MLB, NFL, and NBA. This year’s conference was held in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, February 4-7.

The Florida State Staff responsible for the video include Seminole Productions executive producer Mark Rodin and the editor and producer of the video, Jerry Tootle. The award is presented for outstanding performance in the design of a special occasion video that can be presented on a scoreboard or video board. This was the first time the Special Occasion Video Award was captured by a university or college. The award is traditionally won by a professional sports team, who typically has large funding for such a project.

Rodin and his Seminole Productions staff entered the Bobby Bowden Tribute Video in the contest. The video finished first in the category of Top Special Occasion Video, surpassing the Chicago Blackhawks’ 75th Anniversary Tribute video as well as the Florida Panthers’ Season-Opening video.

“I think that a big part of the reason that video was so successful was because it was so emotional,” Rodin said. “It was the 25th Anniversary of Bobby Bowden’s coaching career, and I think the special occasion added a great deal to the quality of the video. Some people that attended the conference said that they didn’t know that much about Florida State or Bobby Bowden, but after watching the video, they felt like they were not only fans, but a part of the program.”

FSU also finished among the top-three for Video Board in the universities category, following Nebraska and Colorado, with Nebraska taking the award in that category.